Innovation & Transformation Lead

Innovation & Transformation Lead

: PPC Romania

: PPC Romania/Business Performance

: Bucharest

: Permanent

The energy transition happens through people who see their role beyond tasks and understand that what they do has a real impact.

At PPC, we contribute every day to a safer and cleaner energy system, from the networks that connect communities, to renewable energy that transforms the energy mix, or solutions that make electric mobility accessible.

Regardless of the role, our contribution is reflected every day in the communities we serve, in the customers who choose us, and in an energy system that is constantly evolving. We are present across the entire energy value chain and we are looking for motivated people to join us.

If you are curious to understand things in depth, responsible for seeing them through to completion, and open to working in a continuously changing environment, then your place is with us.

What you will do

The role is responsible for defining the company’s innovation strategy for the coming years and for identifying, developing and implementing innovation initiatives that generate business value, while supporting transformation projects derived from those initiatives. The successful candidate will work closely with internal stakeholders and external partners to turn ideas into tangible outcomes.

Key Responsibilities:

·       Innovation Strategy

Define, update and communicate the company’s innovation strategy and roadmap for the coming years.

Set objectives, priorities and success metrics for the innovation portfolio.

Translate the innovation strategy into concrete initiatives and yearly plans.

·       Innovation Management

Identify innovation opportunities across the business.

Explore new technologies, market trends and emerging solutions relevant to the energy sector.

Drive innovation initiatives — from pilot projects and Proofs of Concept (PoCs) to larger-scale projects — from idea to implementation.

Support the evaluation, prioritization and scaling of innovation initiatives.

·       Internal Innovation

Coordinate the internal idea management process.

Facilitate workshops and innovation sessions with business teams.

Encourage a culture of innovation and continuous improvement.

Act as a change ambassador, driving engagement and fostering a culture of innovation and change across the organization.

·       External Partnerships

Collaborate with startups, technology providers, universities and innovation partners.

Support innovation programs, partnerships and external ecosystem activities.

Monitor innovation trends and benchmark market best practices.

Represent the company’s innovation agenda in external ecosystem and industry forums.

·       Transformation Support

Coordinate transformation initiatives resulting from innovation projects.

Act as owner for transformation initiatives stemming from innovation, tracking timelines, budgets and resources across multiple Business Units, in close partnership with, and with shared accountability alongside, the responsible Business Units.

Track project delivery, timelines, risks and KPIs.

Ensure successful implementation and adoption of new solutions.

·       Team Management

Lead, organise and develop the team’s direct reports, setting objectives and providing regular feedback.

Coach team members and support their professional growth.

Allocate resources and priorities across ongoing initiatives.

·       Stakeholder Management

Work closely with business units to understand challenges and opportunities.

Work closely with PPC Greece’s innovation counterparts to align on synergies and cross-market initiatives.

Prepare presentations, recommendations and progress updates for senior management.

Facilitate collaboration across multiple functions and teams.

Candidate profile:

Required Experience:

·       5-10 years of experience in Innovation, Digital Transformation, Strategy, Business Development or Program Management.

·       Experience delivering innovation or transformation initiatives.

·       Strong project management and stakeholder management skills.

·       Ability to move ideas from concept to implementation.

·       Experience working in cross-functional environments.

·       Experience coordinating or managing a team, including direct reports.

Preferred Experience

·       Energy, utilities, technology or FMCG sectors.

·       Experience working with startups, accelerators or innovation programs.

·       PMP, Agile or Lean Six Sigma certifications are considered a plus

Functional skills

What you know how to do — demonstrable through experience, portfolio or certification.

• Proven ability to move an idea from concept to implementation — including the unglamorous middle part.

• Business case building and portfolio prioritisation — assessing value, feasibility and scalability, and being able to justify a stop decision.

• Facilitation of ideation and co-creation sessions with non-technical business audiences (design thinking or equivalent methods).

• Executive-level communication: turning a complex initiative into a clear recommendation for senior management.

• AI and automation literacy — using generative AI and automation tools in your own work, and judging with a business lens where an AI use case is real and where it is only a demo.

Transversal skills

How you work — the capabilities that travel with you across roles and industries.

• Stakeholder management and influence without formal authority — most of what you need will be delivered by people who do not report to you.

• Adaptability and resilience: pilots fail and priorities shift, and you treat both as data rather than as setbacks.

• Critical thinking and problem framing — you challenge the brief when the stated problem is not the real one.

Emergent skills

What prepares you for where this role is going — capabilities rarely asked for five years ago that are quickly becoming non-negotiable.

• Data literacy — reading and interrogating data well enough to decide which pilot scales and which one stops, without needing an analyst to interpret it for you.

• Systems thinking and comfort with ambiguity — holding a view of second-order effects and moving forward before all the information is available.

What we offer you

  A place where you grow, not just work

·       Clear professional and personal development paths

·       Access to courses, mentoring, and coaching programs

·       Role-relevant certifications

·       Real internal mobility opportunities within the PPC Romania Group

A fair package that reflects your contribution

·       Fixed annual bonus (equivalent of one salary) + performance bonus

·       Meal vouchers worth 45 RON/day and bonuses (Energy Day, Easter, Christmas, etc.)

·       Partial reimbursement of vacation costs (2,400 RON)

·       Additional vacation days + extra days off (birthday, Energy Day)

·       Pillar III pension contribution worth 100 RON

·       Bonus for employee referrals – ranging between 1,800 RON – 7,200 RON gross depending on the role

·       Reimbursement for vision devices up to 700 RON, once every 2 years

·       Voucher for partial compensation of energy consumption

Real support for your well-being

·       Medical subscription / private insurance

·       Access to Bookster

·       Partner offers

️ Flexibility that respects your rhythm

·       Hybrid schedule (office & smart working)

·       Short Friday

What else you should know

Recruitment process confidentiality

At PPC, we respect the confidentiality of every application. Only selected candidates will be contacted for an interview, and all other applications will be stored in our database for a maximum of one year.

About PPC

We are leaders in energy in South-East Europe, active in electricity production, distribution, and supply, as well as in developing innovative solutions for a sustainable future. With an installed capacity of 12.4 GW, we supply energy to 8.7 million customers and deliver over 35 TWh annually.

In Romania, PPC became a top player following the acquisition of Enel companies in October 2023. With a history starting in 1950, we are listed on the Athens Stock Exchange and continuously expand our vision.

Our commitment to diversity and inclusion

We believe energy comes from people. At PPC, every voice matters, and diversity is the engine of our innovation. Regardless of age, ethnicity, gender, or disability, we offer an inclusive environment where you can grow and perform.

# EnergyForEveryone  – for your career, for the future, for all